The Sewing Place

Making space for an industrial machine, what second hand brands to look for?

warpbywarpweft

I have the space for an industrial (and the green light from OH, the green light was only really necessary since it’s as big as a bit of furniture)...it would be for leather, loose covers, denim, cushions and bags mainly. 

What should I look for and what should I avoid?  Years ago I used industrial machines at work but I don’t remember much about the make etc other than that they were the type that were built into the table which is something that I was looking for this time too.

b15erk

I don't know anything about industrial machines, but Lauren Mormino here does a review of her Juki.

Hope it helps.

Jessie
Jessie, who is very happy to be here!!  :),  but who has far too many sewing machines to be healthy, and a fabric stash which is becoming embarrassing.

crafter

I have always had Brothers.  No problems with them.  Don't be tempted to buy a Chinese looky likely.  By biggest purchasing disaster!

Gernella

My niece is a professional seamstress, mostly clothes, and she's still using the Juki she bought second hand for around £500 years ago.  I got a surprise when I tried it, I half expected it to run away with me but you could take your time with it. 

They are not that big really, just like having a machine and buying a decent sized table to fit it in.
Stash extension 2024- 6.1 meters
Left at the end of 2023 - 66 meters now (includes fabric found hidden out of sight)  Lining fabric not included

Surest1tch

Mine is a Singer, its older than I am (65) and I absolutely love it to bits out of all the machines I have, I think I had 11 at the last count

warpbywarpweft

Thank you for these tips, I’m stalking e-bay. 

I know industrial machines are not all that big but we have a fairly small house and I already have 4 machines  0_0 :o

I’d love another old Singer.  That said when looking through eBay at the industrial machines my current singer (the 99k) came up as being able to ‘sew leather and several layers of fabric’...I’m going to get it out and test it but I didn’t see it as an industrial.

BrendaP

My daughter bought a second hand Singer industrial 30 years ago and she uses it nearly every day making curtains etc.  Nothing fancy, just straight stitch and zig-zag but fast - she gets frustrated with how slow any domestic machine is!   

The main difference between a domestic and an industrial is the size of the motor, they weigh a ton, but are designed to run constantly all day every day, and modern industrials might be very specialised for one type of stitch only.
Brenda.  My machines are: Corona, a 1953 Singer 201K-3, Caroline, a 1940 Singer 201K-3, Thirza, 1949 Singer 221K, Azilia, 1957 Singer 201K-MK2 and Vera, a Husqvarna 350 SewEasy about 20 years old. Also Bernina 1150 overlocker and Elna 444 Coverstitcher.
http://paternoster.orpheusweb.co.

b15erk

I saw one on FB Marketplace last night, I think £300, but not sure where it is.

I'll have a quick look and report back.

Jessie
Jessie, who is very happy to be here!!  :),  but who has far too many sewing machines to be healthy, and a fabric stash which is becoming embarrassing.

Roger

Few tips... I have one and still can’t use it :)

If it’s industrial it’ll have a motor the size of a keg and anything else is domestic.

Motors come in 2 forms
Clutch - noisy expensive to run but the speed is easily variable, but you have to feather the accelerator as they gently gain speed.
Servo - silent modern motors better torque, but the speed is varied by a switch but is configurable.
They also come in 2 different volt strengths (I’m not great on this bit) 240 or below or 500 500 requires industrial strength power.
240 is home based power mine is 500 so I can’t use it without it blowing the power! So I’m now looking for a 240!

About the actual machine you need to be very clear about what you want your machine for, because industrial machines do 1 thing or a limited number of things really well! Work out your requirements and find the right class of machine.

For example:
95k does straight stitching at up to 3500 stitches a minute and does light medium and heavy fabrics maybe light leathers.

20u Singer does light medium and heavy and unusually has a straight and zigzag and the zigzag goes to 12mm (from memory)

Bernina 450? Is an industrial with a lot of embroidery stitches probably light or medium fabrics.

There’s a multitude of various leather grade machines, with different walking foot options the most rustic is a wheel through to modern multipart feet  there’s some good leather sewing forums out there with excellent advice.

Finally: needles
Check you can get them easily and they’re not extinct! Ie 29k needles for that are a quid each and when they’re gone there’s no more

Also consider harp size ie 95k has a space on a par or slightly bigger than a 201k but a 96k is much bigger!

I went for a fridge cabinet 95k because they’re compact, tough, handle the fabrics I need ie light through to light leathers.

Hope that helps

R.
A bit of a vintage sewing machine nut! Singers: 500a, 401g, 48k Elnas: lotus SP & grasshopper, Bernina 530-2 F+R 504, Pfaff 30, Cresta T-132

arrow

I know one person who fixed up an old Husqvarna 27 for home use.  It's a simple straight stitcher, and the advantage for her is the space under the top arm (harp space?). She can quilt on layers with the thickest cotton batting and use top stitch thread her other machines don't do as easily. I think it's a version of a Singer model, but I can't remember which. Since you go for industrials and are open to used and vintage, nice machines will turn up at a good price, just give it time. The vintage models are very close to some of the new industrial models (Juki and Consew), and replacment parts can be found. 

I just mentioned Husqvarna as an option, there are lots of models out there. Some of them are smooth running machines, and I think it's possible to find more low noise motors these days. I have to add, she only use it for some types of work and has room enough to keep a few machines ready for use. I have seen some walking foot models now and then, heavy duty zigzag models doesn't turn up as often.  I think I would be open to various brands, (preferably known) and include quite a large date of production (pre and post WWII). Keep an eye out at what turns up locally, I like to check the machine out in person when possible, it can make things easier when it comes to transport and details regarding the machine.
« Last Edit: February 07, 2019, 13:37:19 PM by arrow »